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David Villa, one of the world’s finest strikers, is taking his talents to the pitch Westchester.

The DV7 Soccer Academy and
FC Westchester
are teaming to create a platform to develop soccer players who can compete at the highest level in collegiate teams and gives players a foundation from which to pursue a career with professional teams and the U.S. National Team program, officials announced this week.

Villa - the NYCFC captain, former World Cup champion and all-time leading goal scorer for perennial powerhouse Spain - leads the DV7 Soccer Academy, which has evolved into a “network of international youth soccer clubs with academies in cities across the globe.” The Academy has prospects in Spain, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, San Diego and now New York.

Under the new partnership, DV7 will take over the training and development of FC Westchester’s pre-academy teams for 5 through 8 year olds. DV7 coaches Marc Sabate and Delfi Ferreres will also be partnering with the Westchester club to apply “the DV7 methodology and drive the performance of the club’s academy teams.”

Ferreres, in particular, will lead the program as the Director of Coaching. He will focus on the “integral development of the player in a fun, organized and healthy environment, prioritizing both the psychological aspects of the sport as well as individual skills.”

“FC Westchester offers an exciting opportunity for DV7 Soccer to strengthen and expand our brand and soccer methodology in the greater New York area," Villa said. "We share the same philosophy and values of the sport, so we feel confident that combining efforts we will be able to create the best soccer structure for the players."